Niagara Hub’s Craig Avery (yours truly) has partnered with a local architect to tackle another vacant building on Third Street. The former Gibby’s Island Bar at 460 Third has had several false starts since it was a furniture store in the days when people actually walked the streets buying stuff. When we renovated the building across the street, the vision was to create activity, housing, and support for other businesses in the neighborhood. Third Street Liquor, Third Street Variety, and Yvonne’s Cafe each provided new opportunities for tourists and residents alike. Yvonne’s recently closed, supporting many experienced restaurant owners’ warnings about the perils of the restaurant business. We are now hoping an established retail or dining facility can move in and take advantage of the location. Meanwhile, eight apartments on the second floor add to the downtown mix. Yes, only eight, but eight is eight more than we had two years ago.
So what’s up at 460? Four apartments upstairs may take shape soon with upgrades to the typical downtown offerings. Plans for air-conditioned one and two bedroom units will add to improved housing on Third Street. Optimism for a good working relationship with City Hall will help expedite construction. Our experience with the building department and permitting will save time, and pro-active communications with the economic development personnel should help in marketing our new space. NFC, the lending arm of the City, provides funding with various programs for developers to overcome the high costs of construction and relatively low priced market for rentals. These programs are out there for anyone willing to invest in the opportunity. Yes, you have to invest. Others without the balls may want you to think this is a government give-away, but I invite the anonymous bloggers or outside media “been there, done thats” to put some of their own money into the streets and by helping the City, the City will help you.
Please stop by the Hub to talk further about getting involved in Niagara Falls’ future.
The reason Yvonne’s closed was many factors.. Terrible service, food was so/so at best, pricing to high and she billed the place as a bakery as well. It didn’t meet that standard at all. Plus was no “stand out ” food selections to put her on the map. I was there 2 times and experienced the same situation both times. The state parks are not a factor… who wants to eat there???YUCK….
If 3rd street was a vibrant hub of activity, it wouldn’t matter how many restaurants are in the park. One (or even 2 or 3) restaurants just languish on a long street like 3rd. Its needs a shot in the arm (restaurants, shopping, attractions, etc) to compete.
This is why businesses have a tough time getting off the ground in the city of Niagara Falls (btw, this link is being promoted by the NTCC, which is funded by bed taxes, on its Facebook page):
http://www.travelmindset.com/destinations/new-york/story/Niagara-falls-state-park
A new business can not start out paying large rents on a street that has very little happening on it. If the rents started out very small and grew on a sales percent it would help a new owner out. If someone could get as many new business’s to open on the street in the same month, do a big ad , it might help bring people down for more then just one. I would love to be downtown Niagara Falls, but for a little more for rent I am in the Elmwood Village in Buffalo. People walking and shopping every day. Would the owners do a short 6 month low rent just to get a business started???
Froggy- send me an email at the hub, lets start something. Craig avery
all the low rent schemes in the world will not put people in the area to support bus. such as yvonne’s. 3rd street needs people living there so that there is foot traffic to support them. perhaps yvonne’s could have done much better on pine ave. near city market.
have you been to City Market? That is probably the worst neighborhood in NF…yeah foot traffic…no one has cars…crack dealers on bicycles, prostitutes, homeless folks begging for quarters and cigarettes, people beating up others for loose change and cell phones. Obviously Joe you have never been in the hospitality industry, an undercapitalized business can’t survive, even on 3rd Street. Donatello’
s and Third Street Liquors have been there forever.
the area i mention has some very busy intersections. pine & 18th st. pine & 19th st. so there are plenty of cars in the area. for your information i was in the hospitality industry. i think i know what it takes to make it work. i think you have tried to give the area a much bigger black eye then exists. bank of amer. could not make it on 3rd. st.
well, it would help if the people working there knew how to wait on tables and work the register
I agree with anonymous, service at Yvonnes was very slow; went there often and was always disappointed with service.
I don’t think Yvonne’s closed because of the “perils of the restaurant business”.The atmosphere was pleasant and the food very good. Yvonne’s among other establishments have closed because it is impossible to compete with Delaware North’s Top of the Falls restaurant and three food booths in Niagara Falls State Park.